Displaceable utility positioning system for motorcycles

Abstract

A positioning system operable about a motorcycle for selectively locating a utility, such as a storage utility or a back rest utility, in one of a plurality of positions about a rear fender of the motorcycle. The positioning system includes a mounting assembly having first and second side mounts securable about opposing sides of the rear fender. The positioning system also includes a carriage configured to support the utility, and which is slidably coupled to the mounting assembly, and which has a range of travel defined by a centerline of the carriage that translating at least the entire length of the side mounts between a most forward position and a most rearward position. The positioning system further includes a riser operable to elevate the carriage above an upper surface of the rear fender, and a locking device that allows the carriage to be locked in a plurality of positions above the rear fender of the motorcycle.

1 . A positioning system operable about a motorcycle for selectively locating a utility in one of a plurality of positions, said positioning system comprising:
 a mounting assembly having first and second side mounts securable about opposing sides of a rear fender of a motorcycle;   a carriage slidably coupled to said mounting assembly and configured to support said utility, wherein said carriage comprises a range of travel defined by a centerline of said carriage that translates about at least the entire length of said side mounts between a most forward position and a most rearward position;   a riser operable to elevate said carriage above an upper surface of said rear fender; and   a locking device such that said carriage may be locked in a plurality of positions above said rear fender.   
     
     
         2 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said carriage is slidably coupled to said mounting assembly using linear bearings having a range of motion that operates to cantilever said carriage at least 50% of the length of said carriage beyond a rear-most portion of said side mounts. 
     
     
         3 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein a position of said carriage within said range of travel is variable one of incrementally and continuously between said most forward position and said most rearward position. 
     
     
         4 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a passenger seat that removably interfaces with said upper surface of said rear fender upon said carriage being displaced sufficiently rearward to expose an adequate portion of said upper surface of said fender. 
     
     
         5 . The positioning system of  claim 4 , wherein said passenger seat directly contacts said upper surface of said rear fender. 
     
     
         6 . The positioning system of  claim 4 , wherein said utility comprises a back support operable with said carriage to selectively provide posterior support to a rider of said motorcycle when said carriage is located in a forward position, and to provide posterior support to a passenger of said motorcycle when said carriage is located in a rearward position. 
     
     
         7 . The positioning system of  claim 6 , wherein said utility comprises a storage container operable with said carriage, and wherein said storage container comprises a back support supported about and extending from said storage container. 
     
     
         8 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second side mounts are securable about said opposing sides of said rear fender using pre-existing bolt holes formed in said motorcycle to maintain an exposed upper surface of said rear fender. 
     
     
         9 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein said carriage and riser further comprise:
 a first carriage portion slidably coupled to said mounting assembly and configured to support said utility, wherein said first carriage portion comprises said range of travel; and   a second carriage portion associated with said utility and removably coupled to said first carriage portion, and having said riser operable to elevate said utility above an upper surface of said rear fender.   
     
     
         10 . The positioning system of  claim 9 , wherein said locking device extends outwardly from a side of said second carriage portion to engage one of said first and second side mounts. 
     
     
         11 . The positioning system of  claim 9 , wherein said second carriage portion is removably coupled to said first carriage portion with a coupling device affixed to an interior face of said second carriage portion. 
     
     
         12 . A positioning and seating system operable about a motorcycle for selectively locating a utility in one of a plurality of positions, said positioning and seating system comprising:
 a mounting assembly having first and second side mounts securable about opposing sides of a rear fender of a motorcycle;   a carriage slidably coupled to said mounting assembly and configured to support said utility;   a riser operable to elevate said carriage above an upper surface of said rear fender;   a locking device such that said carriage may be locked in a plurality of forward and rearward positions above said rear fender; and   a passenger seat removably interfacing with said upper surface of said rear fender upon said carriage being displaced sufficiently rearward to expose an adequate portion of said upper surface of said fender.   
     
     
         13 . The positioning and seating system of  claim 12 , wherein said passenger seat directly contacts said upper surface of said rear fender. 
     
     
         14 . The positioning and seating system of  claim 12 , wherein said carriage comprises a range of travel defined by a centerline of said carriage that translates about at least the entire length of said side mounts between a most forward position and a most rearward position. 
     
     
         15 . The positioning and seating system of  claim 12 , wherein said carriage is slidably coupled to said mounting assembly using linear bearings having a range of motion that operates to cantilever said carriage at least 50% of the length of said carriage beyond a rear-most portion of said side mounts. 
     
     
         16 . The positioning and seating system of  claim 12 , wherein a position of said carriage within said range of travel is variable at least one of incrementally and continuously between said most forward position and said most rearward position. 
     
     
         17 . The positioning and seating system of  claim 12 , wherein said utility comprises a back support operable with said carriage to selectively provide posterior support to a rider of said motorcycle when said carriage is located in a forward position, and to provide posterior support to a passenger of said motorcycle when said carriage is located in a rearward position. 
     
     
         18 . The positioning and seating system of  claim 17 , wherein said utility comprises a storage container operable with said carriage, and wherein said storage container comprises a back support supported about and extending from said storage container. 
     
     
         19 . The positioning and seating system of  claim 12 , wherein said first and second side mounts are securable about said opposing sides of said rear fender using pre-existing bolt holes formed in said motorcycle to maintain an exposed upper surface of said rear fender. 
     
     
         20 . The positioning and seating system of  claim 12 , wherein said carriage and riser further comprise:
 a first carriage portion slidably coupled to said mounting assembly and configured to support said utility, wherein said first carriage portion comprises said range of travel; and   a second carriage portion associated with said utility and removably coupled to said first carriage portion, and having said riser operable to elevate said utility above an upper surface of said rear fender.   
     
     
         21 . A method of displacing a utility about a rear fender of a motorcycle comprising:
 operating a positioning system mounted to said motorcycle about a rear fender, that is operable to locate a carriage configured to support said utility in one of a plurality of positions about said rear fender of said motorcycle;   positioning said carriage and said utility in a rearward position sufficient to expose said upper surface of said fender;   attaching a separate, supplemental passenger seat configured to removably interface with said upper surface of said rear fender when said carriage and utility are located in said rearward position; and   adjusting said carriage and said utility to provide desired posterior support to a passenger of said motorcycle.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said positioning system comprises:
 a mounting assembly having first and second side mounts securable to opposing sides of a rear fender of a motorcycle;   said carriage slidably coupled to said mounting assembly and configured to support said utility;   a riser operable to elevate said carriage above an upper surface of said rear fender; and   a locking device such that said carriage may be locked in a plurality of forward and rearward positions above said rear fender.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said carriage comprises a range of travel defined by a centerline of said carriage that translates about at least the entire length of said side mounts between a most forward position and a most rearward position. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said utility comprises a back support operable with said carriage to selectively provide posterior support to a rider of said motorcycle when said carriage is located in a forward position, and to provide posterior support to a passenger of said motorcycle when said carriage is located in a rearward position. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein operating a positioning system further comprises removably coupling a second carriage portion associated with said utility to a first carriage portion operable with said positioning system mounted about said rear fender, and forming a carriage that is operable to locate said utility in one of a plurality of positions. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 removing said passenger seat;   repositioning said carriage and said utility in a forward position; and   adjusting said carriage and said utility to provide desired posterior support to a rider of said motorcycle.   
     
     
         27 . A method of displacing a utility about a rear fender of a motorcycle comprising:
 removably coupling a second carriage portion associated with said utility to a first carriage portion operable with a positioning system mounted to said motorcycle about a rear fender, and forming a carriage assembly that is operable to locate said utility in one of a plurality of positions about said fender of said motorcycle;   positioning said carriage assembly and said utility in a rearward position sufficient to expose said upper surface of said fender;   attaching a separate, supplemental passenger seat configured to removably interface with said upper surface with said carriage assembly and utility are located in said rearward position;   adjusting said carriage assembly and said utility to provide desired posterior support to a passenger of said motorcycle; and   interchanging said second carriage portion and associated utility with another second carriage portion associated with a different utility.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 removing said passenger seat;   repositioning said carriage assembly and said utility in a forward position; and   adjusting said carriage assembly and said utility to provide desired posterior support to a rider of said motorcycle.   
     
     
         29 . A positioning system operable about a motorcycle for selectively locating an interchangeable utility in one of a plurality of positions, said positioning system comprising:
 a mounting assembly having first and second side mounts securable about opposing sides of a rear fender of a motorcycle;   a first carriage portion slidably coupled to said mounting assembly and configured to support said interchangeable utility, wherein said first carriage portion comprises a range of travel defined by a centerline of said first carriage portion that translates about at least the entire length of said side mounts between a most forward position and a most rearward position;   a second carriage portion associated with said interchangeable utility and removably coupled to said first carriage portion, and having a riser operable to elevate said interchangeable utility above an upper surface of said rear fender; and   a locking device such that said first and second carriage portions may be locked together in a plurality of positions above said rear fender.   
     
     
         30 . The positioning system of  claim 29 , wherein said interchangeable utility is selected from the group consisting of a luggage rack having a back support supported about and extending from said luggage rack, and a storage container having a back support supported about and extending from said storage container.